Junior development a key as Woodend-Hesket looks to the future

Woodend-Hesket’s Mackenzie Brown, Madeline and Sarah Staresina, Sarah Duff and Taylah Ranieri with A-grade coach Wendy Roberts. (Damjan Janevski)

Woodend-Hesket is keen to build on a promising Riddell District Netball League season.

While results show the Hawks won just two games in A-grade this year, there were big steps taken on and off the court across the program.

Netball co-ordinator Kellie Duff said the Hawks were thrilled with how far they have come.

“From where we were to where we are now, it’s really positive to see how we develop for next season,” she said.

“We’ve got a couple of girls coming back and there looks like there will be a real strength of numbers.

“We have had great success in our junior program over the last several years and we now have these players feeding through to the senior sides.”

Duff said initial interest for next season had been good ahead of netball trials this month.

She said one area they expected to see big growth in was the under-19s, which will flow through the other teams.

Duff said the club’s junior development program was strong and it was starting to flow on at a higher level, with players selected in Victorian Netball League development squads.

“This year our 15s won the division 1 premiership and our 17s and 19s teams only just missed out on a grand final berth by the narrowest of margins,” she said.

Duff said as well as attracting some new and old players to the club, it looked like most, if not all of this year’s playing group would return.

All the coaches from the under-15s through to A-grade, which will again be coached by Wendy Roberts, have re-signed.

“It’s a massive plus for us and we didn’t have to advertise,” Duff said. “The coaches said they wanted to return and all the players knew that as well. Wendy will keep developing the girls and she knows the under-19s well as we rotated them through the senior side.”

The Hawks will hold netball trials on November 14, 16 and 21 for their under-15 through to A-grade teams.

Under-15s and 17s will be held from 4.30pm and under-19s and open grades from 6pm.

Registration forms need to be completed by Friday.

Details: 0419 535 062